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Join me as I travel around the country to fulfill my goal of running a marathon or half marathon in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Crunch Time

Have you read SUAR's article about first time marathoners? I didn't think it was possible for me to get more excited about my marathon IN 22 DAYS, but her article did the trick. I am excited and nervous and might pee my pants when I land in Nashville, but it's all good b/c bags fly free on Southwest so I'll just pack extra clothes (as long as they don't fly out a hole in the plane).

I was relieved to see that I've done most of the things on SUAR's list to prepare for my first full. I mean, I realize that running a marathon is not like taking a vocab test freshman year. There is no cramming your training in during your lunch period and expecting to cross the finish line with any dignity. As runners, we actually have to do the opposite of that when we near race day (the dreaded taper).

So this is not crunch time for running, but it is crunch time for all those things that make us better runners: food, sleep, mental confidence, etc. I have been really bad about the sleep part. I stay up way too late doing nothing overly important. That stops today. As for food, I've cut back on sweets, but I haven't been paying enough attention to my calorie count each day. I have to remind myself that just b/c I'm training it doesn't mean I can eat 12,346,378 calories each day...even though I really want to. Plus I need to drink tons more water.

SUAR suggests telling everyone you know about your marathon so that they can keep you accountable...thank goodness I have you all for that every day! :) I'm trying my best to stay focused and confident that I can complete 26.2 miles, even when my hip tries to tell me otherwise. My head is like one of those child-proof pill bottles right now...doubt can't open that sucker even if it had the jaws of life.

Wednesday's work-out was a 4.5 mile run and 20 minutes of strength training. Thursday's run was 5.5 miles. After Wednesday's work-out I was super hungry, and I hadn't done dishes all week so that means I made a gigantic salad and ate it out of a mixing bowl. That baby had lettuce (duh), garbanzo beans, tuna, carrots, tomatoes, onions, cheese, and balsamic vinegar. yumm. Do you think the size of this salad could rival Janae's awesome monster salads??
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Huge salad and runner's world magazine. Heck Yes, what a night.
P.S. - I hope Santa can bring me abs like Kara this year for Christmas. How did that woman just have a baby?!?!

﻿ I mentioned some great give-aways last post and here is one more: Megan has a sweet playlist to give away!

p.s. - Thanks for all your awesome comments on my last blog post about "bad" race pics. I'm definitely going to incorporate it into my first give-away. Maybe at 50 followers?? Help a sister out and spread the word if you can :)

oh yay! glad you posted the link to the first time marathoners post! i'll have to refer back to it closer to mine! so excited that you're race is getting close! i'll just be running the half, but maybe i'll keep my eyes open for you! :)